AC College Page
College Prep Checklist
The mission of Berkeley High School is to prepare all students for admission to a four year college. Unfortunately, admission to a four year college is more complex and competitive than ever and completion of the required courses and tests sometimes feels (especially in the junior year) like a marathon course. And just like a marathon course, it's important to know the route before the gun goes off . .
Freshmen:
Welcome to Berkeley High! Freshman year is a great time to explore new interests – dance, art, drama, music, sports – and discover the opportunities available to you at BHS. Get to know your teachers, visit them during lunch or after school, and check out the College and Career Center. Use the resources at BHS and start thinking about your future. Keep your grades up and your expectations high!
Sophomores:
Beware the sophomore slump! Only the grades you earn in "a-g" subjects in the 10th and 11th grades -- including summer sessions -- are used to calculate your GPA by the University of California. Some private colleges also use grades from your freshman year. Courses you took in ninth grade can be used to meet the Subject Requirement if you earned a grade of C or better, but they will not be used to calculate your GPA. Sophomore year counts!
Consider taking an SAT Subject Test if you are taking an AP class (www.collegeboard.com). Schedule the test as close to the AP exam as possible. All students applying to the UC system (and many private colleges), must submit two SAT Subject Tests. These must be in two different areas, chosen from the following: English, history and social studies, mathematics (Level 2 only), science or language other than English.
Juniors:
Time to buckle down and keep the grades up. Visit local colleges and college fairs – go on a college tour with your family. Start researching possible majors and college choices, discussing family resources and expectations with your parents/guardians. Prepare for and take college entrance examinations in the spring. Meet with the BHS college counselor to review your options and start your college list. Ask two teachers (one science/math, one humanities/language) for a recommendation. Pace yourself and don’t get too overloaded – work on time management and keep your commitments realistic. Do something interesting and creative during the summer -- do an internship or take a summer class, volunteer with a community service group, start a business, write a play, work and travel.
Seniors:
Amost there! Write your senior profile and hand it in on time – make sure your parents know that they have to provide answers as well. Attend college orientations in the College and Career Center, and introduce yourself to the admissions officer who has made the presentation. Finalize your college list by mid-October at the latest – you will need to submit school profiles and recommendation forms to the College and Career office by early November. Applications to impacted CSU campuses are due October 1st! UC applications are due November 30th, while most private college applications are due January 1st or later. Create a college matrix and keep your college information in a filing system, checking off tasks as you proceed. Try to avoid spring semester senoritis – selective colleges, including UC’s, will withdraw your acceptance if your grades drop precipitously.
Take the required University of California "A-G" Courses: (with a "P" designation in the BHS catalogue)
- History/Social Science – 2 years required
- English – 4 years required
- Mathematics – 3 years required, 4 years recommended
- Laboratory Science – 2 years required, 3 years recommended
- Foreign Language – 2 years required, 3 years recommended
- Visual and Performing Arts – 1 year required
- College Preparatory Electives – 1 year required
Don't miss any classes and don't be late!
The new BHS attendance policy is really tough. Miss 5 classes without an excuse and your class grade will be lowered by one full grade. Three tardies are the equivalent of one unexcused
absence, so if you accumulate 15 tardies your grade will be lowered by one full grade -- OUCH!
Pay attention to your GPA (grade point average):
The GPA indicated on your Berkeley High transcript is NOT the same as the GPA used by private colleges and the University of California. Berkeley High’s transcript calculates the GPA based upon all of your classes, including classes like PE that the UC does not include in their calculation. The UC system will calculate your GPA in required "a-g" subjects by assigning point values to the grades you earn, totaling the points and dividing the total by the number of "a-g" courses. Points are assigned as follows: A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D=1 point, and F=0 points.
D and F Grades
If you have earned a D or F in an "a-g" course, you must repeat the course with a grade of C or better. The original D or F grade will not be included in the GPA calculation, and the new grade will be used. If you repeat a course in which you initially earned a grade of C, the second grade will not be used. Consider repeating the course during summer school!
Get involved -- in sports, in clubs, in work
Colleges are not just interested in your academic abilities. They are also interested in your extra-curricular activities -- work, community involvement, club activities, school leadership, theatre, dance, arts and sports. Be sure to keep a record of all your activities and awards, building a "resume" for your college applications.
Take Advanced Placement and Honors Courses (within reason!)
The University of California (and many selective colleges) assigns extra points for up to eight semesters of UC certified honors level and Advanced Placement courses taken in the last three years of high school: A=5 points, B=4 points, C=3 points. No more than two yearlong UC approved honors level courses taken in the 10th grade may be given extra points. A grade of D in an honors or advanced placement course does not earn extra points.
Visit a local college with your family and friends
There are several local colleges that offer tours on weekdays and on Saturdays. Most tours are held twice a day -- visit the college website or call their admissions office for more information. St. Mary's College in Moraga, for example, is a local small private college; the University of California (right up the street) is a local large public university. Go to www.collegeboard.com (under college search) for links to college admissions offices.
Take the PSAT
The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test is offered at BHS during October of each year. This test is recommended for sophomores (as a practice test) and for juniors. Results from this test are used to identify students eligible for National Merit Scholarships.
Take the required college entrance examinations:
Some colleges and universities do not require admissions tests. Some make them optional, and some provide alternatives. These schools are listed on the FairTest website. Unfortunately, most public and private colleges will require either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Assessment plus Writing. The critical reading, writing and mathematics scores on the SAT must be from the same sitting. If you take the ACT, you will be asked to report your scores on each section of the test as well as your composite score.
Most selective colleges (and the University of California) also require at least two SAT Subject Tests. These must be in two different areas, chosen from the following: English, history and social studies, mathematics (Level 2 only), science or language other than English. If you are taking an AP (Advanced Placement) or Honors class, this would probably be an excellent preparation for the SAT Subject Test. Try to schedule your subject test as close to the AP exam as possible (so the material is fresh).
ACT: American College Test, a standardized achievement test required for application to colleges and universities. There is no penalty for guessing on this test, and scores are not reported to schools if you do not wish to send them. http://www.act.org
SAT I: Scholastic Assessment Test, a standardized achievement test required for application to colleges and universities. There is a penalty for guessing on this test, and all scores are reported to schools (the good and the bad). http://www.collegeboard.org
Study for the SAT's (or the ACT)
Most college admissions officers feel that the college admissions exams are an unfortunate necessity. They provide a quick and easy way to judge a student against a national norm, and are used by colleges to adjust for regional and school differences. Preparation for these exams is highly recommended; they are long, exhausting, stressful tests. It is very important to be familiar with the format of the test and the type of material you will be tested on. Take a practice test in the fall of junior year just to get an idea of what the test is like, and visit the websites above for free on-line test preparation. Most large bookstores have an entire section dedicated to test preparation books, with practice tests and test taking strategies, and test preparation books are available in the College and Career Center for your use.
SAT Test Registration and Dates
ACT Test Registration and Dates